Answer
If a spiral ring does not seat fully in the groove, the first check is the 'Groove Diameter' and 'Groove Width.' Spiral rings are designed to have a specific radial clearance. If the groove is too shallow (diameter too large for internal or too small for external), the ring will be 'held out.' Another common issue is 'winding' the ring too tight; if the ring was manually installed using a spiral motion and the end was not 'snapped' into place, it may be hung up on the groove edge. Engineers should verify that the groove is free of burrs and that the ring's 'free diameter' is correct. For internal rings, if the ring was contracted too far during installation, it might have taken a set, reducing its outward pressure and preventing it from fully expanding into the groove.
